Poudre River overtakes structures near Greeley

GREELEY, Colo. — Numerous voluntary evacuations and detours were in effect Monday as the Poudre River swelled into residential areas. Officials warned late Monday voluntary evacuations could possibly become mandatory, and residents in affected zones needed to be ready.

The Red Cross said it had shelters ready to open should they become needed.

Late Sunday night, the Greeley Fire Department issued a voluntary evacuation notice for parts of north-central and northwest Greeley because of the potential for rising Poudre River floodwaters.

The evacuation area was defined as F Street on the north, 2nd street on the south, 35th Avenue on the west and 25th Avenue on the east.

A reverse 911 notification was sent to residents of the evacuation area, the Greeley Tribune reported.

About noon, the National Weather Service measured the Poudre River at 9.1 feet in east Greeley. The flood stage is 8 feet.

A secondary evacuation notice went out about 5 p.m. The boundaries were 5th Street on the north , 7th Street on the south, 6th Avenue on the west, and the Poudre River on the east, the Tribune reported.

The city of Greeley urged residents to plan their drives carefully because 59th Avenue, 8th Avenue and U.S. Highway 85 are the only north-south roads coming into the city that are open.